.. Purim is celebrated in the second month of Adar, so it is always one month before
Passover.
--
minor fast, the Fast of Esther--
Year 5768: sunset March 20, 2008 - nightfall March 21, 2008
FOLLOWED by
The
Fast of the Firstborn, normally observed on the day before Pesach, ... The search for chametz, ..on the night before Pesach, .. The seder should be
prepared for as much as possible before Shabbat begins, because time ..to
prepare for Pesach. .. For further details, ..
Orthodox Union, ...
Pesach begins on the 15th day of the Jewish month of
Nissan. It is the first of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are
Shavu'ot and
Sukkot). Agriculturally, it represents the beginning of the
harvest season in
Israel...
(1) FAST of Esther (2) FAST of First-born (3) search for chametz
Probably the most significant observance related to Pesach involves the removal of chametz (leaven; sounds like "hum it's" with that Scottish "ch") from our homes. This commemorates the fact that the Jews leaving Egypt were in a hurry, and did not have time to let their bread rise. It is also a
symbolic way of removing the "puffiness" (arrogance, pride) from our souls.THREE as a period of TIME from the first of the 3 fasts will be:
->Jewish Year 5768: sunset June 8, 2008 - nightfall June 10, 2008<-
Shavu'ot is not tied to a particular calendar date, but to a counting from Passover.
You shall count for yourselves -- from the day after the Shabbat, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving -- seven Shabbats, they shall be complete. Until the day after the seventh sabbath you shall count, fifty days... -Leviticus 23:15-16
You shall count for yourselves seven weeks, from when the sickle is first put to the standing crop shall you begin counting seven weeks. Then you will observe the Festival of Shavu'ot for the L-RD, your G-d -Deuteronomy 16:9-10
It is customary to stay up the entire first night of Shavu'ot and study Torah, then pray as early as possible in the morning.
The book of Ruth is read ..
It is customary to eat a dairy meal ..
It is noteworthy that the holiday is called the time of the giving of the Torah, rather than the time of the receiving of the Torah. The sages point out that we are constantly in the process of receiving the Torah, that we receive it every day, but it was first given at this time.
Kinsman Redeemer -- pure milk of the WORD --
DOER of Word [not HEARER Only]
Shavu'ot, 49 days or 7 full weeks
Shavu'ot, the Festival of Weeks, is the second of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Passover and Sukkot). Agriculturally, it commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple, and is known as Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits). Historically, it celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and is also known as Hag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of the Giving of Our Torah).
BUT FIRST, HAMAN!